Richmond crews say they are ready for winter weather

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Officials say Richmond's Department of Public Works (DPW) is prepared for the upcoming winter months thanks to recent training and successful dry runs.

As part of DPW's training, staff completed practice runs of 60 snow routes, according to a release sent on Monday, Nov. 24.

"Dry runs are a critical part of the city’s winter preparedness plan," the DPW release explained. "They allow city crews to familiarize themselves with their routes, test equipment, identify any operational issues, and ensure that plow operators can safely navigate challenging areas before the first major snowfall."

In preparation for the winter season, the city currently has 5,000 tons of salt, 2,000 tons of sand and 2,000 tons of a mixture of salt and sand, in addition to other chemicals designed to prevent bridge surfaces from freezing.

DPW also shared it's priorities for treating the city's roads in the event of snowfall:

• First priority: Bridges, major thoroughfares, arterial streets and emergency routes
• Second priority: Minor thoroughfares and designated transit routes -- these streets must be cleared first to make them passable for emergency vehicles and to permit entry and exit into the city
• Third priority: Residential and other local streets

For more information on the department, visit the DPW page on Richmond's website.